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He is giving up his titles, including the the Duke, he has stated in a individual message.

He has been under growing attention over his links with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, with requests for the monarchy to take steps against him.

That now seems to have caused the royal deciding to willingly give up his honors and to give up membership of the prestigious order.

In his statement he said he continued to "firmly refute the claims against me".

"In talks with the King, and my direct and extended family, we have concluded the ongoing allegations about me take away from the responsibilities of His Majesty and the Royal Family," said a statement from Prince Andrew.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my duty to my kin and nation first.

"I uphold my choice five years ago to stand back from public life.

"With the monarch's approval, we feel I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer hold my designation or the honours which have been bestowed on me. As I have said previously, I firmly refute the claims against me."

Prince Andrew has faced a range of scandals, including a lawsuit he resolved with Virginia Giuffre, questions about his finances and his association with an accused intelligence operative.

He will remain a prince - but will cease to be the York's Duke, a title granted from his the late Queen, the late Queen Elizabeth.

The prince had already stopped to be a "active member" and had lost the use of his HRH title and no longer appeared at public engagements. His status now will be even more lessened.

His former spouse will be known as Sarah and no longer the Duchess, but their offspring will carry on to have the honor of princess.

The royal has encountered severe scrutiny over his connections with notorious figure the financier, more recently including questions about when he had really ended ties.

In his television appearance, he had said that he had ended all connections with Epstein after they had been seen together in New York in late 2010.

But emails sent in early 2011 later came to light implying that Andrew had confidentially continued in contact with him, including exchanging a message: "Stay in contact and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been mounting displeasure in Buckingham Palace at the controversies that remained to surround the royal.

In the coming days a book released after death by Virginia Giuffre will be published which is likely to cast additional scrutiny on the royal's involvement with Ms Giuffre and Epstein.